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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Middle Atlantic Region

17 Ranked Colleges
90 Degrees Awarded
$19,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor's in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Music Theory & Composition is the 415th most popular major in the country with 1,117 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Middle Atlantic region, there were 228 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 90 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,278 and $24,587 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in music theory and composition. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music theory and composition programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 17 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Middle Atlantic Region

#1

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Johns Hopkins University is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 3 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k list, Johns Hopkins has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Johns Hopkins University is $3,526 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Johns Hopkins University Music Theory & Composition Report

#2

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#17 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brooklyn College landed the #2 spot on the list. Brooklyn College is a fairly large public school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 4 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k list, Brooklyn College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Brooklyn College is $1,106 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Brooklyn College

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Maryland - Baltimore County. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMBC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMBC is $10,820 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Maryland - Baltimore County

#4

SUNY Fredonia

Fredonia, New York
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend SUNY Fredonia. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Fredonia, New York, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

SUNY Fredonia also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $10,770 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SUNY Fredonia.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at SUNY Fredonia

#5

University of Rochester

Rochester, New York
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Rochester. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Rochester, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Rochester is $15,324 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Rochester

#6

Purchase College

Purchase, New York
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Purchase College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purchase College is located in Purchase, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Purchase College also took the #14 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. It costs about $12,928 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purchase College.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Purchase College

#7

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York
#9 in overall quality

Syracuse University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Syracuse, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Syracuse University is $17,164 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Syracuse Music Theory & Composition Report

#8

Ithaca College

Ithaca, New York
#4 in overall quality

Ithaca College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Ithaca is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ithaca also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Ithaca College is $18,855 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Ithaca College

#9

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Temple University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Temple, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. It costs about $18,315 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Temple University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Temple Music Theory & Composition Report

#10

Manhattan School of Music

New York, New York
#11 in overall quality

Manhattan School of Music did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Manhattan School of Music also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Manhattan School of Music is $33,759 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music

#11

New York University

New York, New York
#3 in overall quality

New York University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NYU is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 10 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

NYU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NYU is $25,937 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full New York University Music Theory & Composition Report

#12

Nazareth College

Rochester, New York
#10 in overall quality

Nazareth College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rochester, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Nazareth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $16,298 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Nazareth.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Nazareth College

#13

Rider University

Lawrenceville, New Jersey
#13 in overall quality

Rider University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rider University is located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Rider did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $21,161 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rider.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Rider University

#14

The Juilliard School

New York, New York
#5 in overall quality

The Juilliard School came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The Juilliard School is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k list, Juilliard has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Juilliard is $24,105 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Juilliard

#15

Catholic University of America

Washington, District of Columbia
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Catholic University of America did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Catholic University of America is a medium-sized school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

CUA also took the #8 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. It costs about $25,675 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CUA.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at CUA

#16

The New School

New York, New York
#12 in overall quality

The New School ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. New School University is located in New York, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

New School University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The New School is $37,723 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at The New School

#17

The University of the Arts

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#16 in overall quality

The University of the Arts did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UArts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UArts is $39,618 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at The University of the Arts

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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